On Sunday at Flushing Meadows, in the final of the 2011 US Open,
this year's finalist at Rome and Toronto, 27 year old 9th seeded #10 (career high: #4) Samantha Stosur from Gold Coast, Australia,
defeated
the 1999, 2002, & 2008 tourney champion, 29 year old 28th seeded #29 (former #1; rank down due to injury & illness) Serena Williams from Palm Beach Gardens, FL,
6-2, 6-3 (both ladies are shown during the match, and Sam with the hardware after).
Samantha struck 20 winners (including 2 aces), with only 12 unforced errors (including 1 double fault), while scoring on 5 of the 9 break points she reached against Serena and totaling 61 points in the match. Serena hit 19 winners (1 ace), with 25 unforced errors (2 DFs), while converting the 1 of the 5 break points she reached against Samantha, and scoring 41 points in the match. match stats

Serena seemed a bit sluggish in the 1st set, and from the start had difficulty handling Samantha's kick ("American twist") serve, which twists into (or away from) the receiver to a surprising degree due to high spin on the ball. Samantha won 12 consecutive points to take the last three games of the 1st set.

As Serena was serving in the first game of the 2nd set, she let out a loud yell after driving the ball toward Samantha, before Sam had a chance to hit it. This is a rule violation for distracting the opponent, and the point was properly awarded to Samantha. Serena became upset and had words with chair umpire Eva Asderaki which extended into the next game. Serena was given a warning for verbal abuse (on Monday Serena was fined $2,000 for the violation; it was not determined to be a "major offense," which would have required further action because Serena was still under probation due to events in 2009). Both players appeared to be distracted by the incident. Samantha broke Serena's serve, but Serena broke back in the following game.

Samantha broke Serena's serve again in the 7th game of the 2nd set. With Serena serving, trailing 3-5, Samantha won on her third match point with a inside out forehand crosscourt on a service return. BBC "as it happened"

Samantha's prize is $1,800,000; Serena's prize is $900,000. Serena, who won the most points in the "US Open Series" of Summer tournaments, will thus also receive a bonus of $500,000, bringing her total to $1,400,000.

At the award ceremony, Samantha said: "I had one of my best days, and I'm very fortunate that I had it on this stage in New York. Ever since I started playing it was a dream of mine to be here one day. I don't really know what to say. Serena, you are a fantastic player, great champion and have done wonders for our sport. Thanks to everyone back home for supporting me. All my friends, family and everyone else, thanks so much for supporting me. I look forward to coming back home." Samantha's postmatch press interview

Also at the ceremony, Serena said: "[Samantha] played really well, she's a great player. I tried my hardest but she kept hitting winners and there was nothing I could do. It [the point she was stripped of in game one of the second set] wouldn't have made a difference. Six months ago in the hospital I couldn't even stand up, but thanks to my parents and sisters and everyone else I'm here. I'm emotional, I might start crying. I'm happy to be here, it's really good." Serena's postmatch press interview

Serena still leads Sam 4-3 in career matches, but Sam has won two of their last three meetings. Their previous encounter was on a Deco-Turf hardcourt last month in the final in Toronto, when Serena defeated Samantha 6-4, 6-2.

2010 French Open finalist Samantha is now 3-9 in WTA singles finals. In 2007 Samantha was forced offcourt by viral meningitis and Lyme disease after a tick bite, but she recovered in 2008 and won titles at Osaka in 2009, and at Charleston last year. Sam has an 38-18 singles match record this season.

This year's champ at Toronto and Stanford (and 13 time Grand Slam singles champion), Serena is now 39-15 in WTA singles finals. She won the 2010 Australian Open and Wimbledon titles, but stepped on broken glass at a restaurant after Wimbledon last year and was sidelined for about 11 months, during which she also suffered from a pulmonary embolism. Serena, who did not return to play until Eastbourne in June of this year, has a 22-2 singles match record for 2011.

Several classic US Open full match and highlight videos can be watched in the video player below (and are accessible from any page on this site with a video player). The matches include the 1979 US Open final, Tracy Austin d Chris Evert, 6-4, 6-3. First select the category "Sports: WTA Classics" and choose then the match you wish to see. Enjoy.

2011 prize money is now shown below. There was no increase in prize money for losers in qualifying through round 2—the players who need the money the most (considering inflation, this is a decrease in prize money). From round 3 onward there are increases, and the less the players need the money, the greater the increase, up to a $100,000 increase for the champion. In 2004 qualifying finalists received $9,375. Now they get $8,000.

Flushing Meadows: The US Open has 32 seeds, with no 1st-round byes. There are 16 qualifiers and 8 wild cards in the main draw. Qualifying finals: Friday, August 26th.

2011: On Friday, August 26, in New York, 2006 US Open champ Maria Sharapova (left) and 1999, 2002 & '08 champ Serena Williams (right) participated participated in pre-tourney photo festivities at the Nike store, while Sania Mirza & Vania King (center) were grilled by a New York Times media panel...

Caroline serving, Nuria flying to field a forehand, Caro contemplating one, and after match point

Caroline said: "First match is tough to indicate anything. But happy to be through. I definitely still have a chance because now there's only 64 left...
"There are a lot of things to my game I can still improve, but everyone can. I'm on the right track. I just go out there and I play the way I do, and hopefully that's good enough." postmatch interview

Maria serving, Heather and Maria following backhands, and Maria after match point

Maria struck 41 winners (including 5 aces), although with 58 unforced errors (including 8 double faults), while scoring on 6 of the 16 break points she reached against Heather and totaling 99 points in the match. Heather hit only 9 winners (no aces), with 30 unforced errors (2 DFs), while converting all of the 5 break points she reached against Maria, and scoring 89 points in the match. match stats

The win extended Maria's record in 3-set matches this year to 12-0. Maria said: "No matter how well or bad or good I'm playing, or my opponent is playing, I know I can tough it out... There's no doubt that I wasn't playing my best tennis. [Heather] was smart in making me hit another ball. I was making so many errors out there. She stuck to her game plan; she kept grinding." ESPN story

Heather said: "Maria's a fighter. She's never going to give up. That's what makes her a champion. That's why she's won this tournament before."

n5 s4 Victoria Azarenka BLR d n64 Johanna Larsson SWE 6-1, 6-3 Tue

Victoria and Johanna following forehands, and Vika driving a backhand

Victoria said: "There are always things that could have been done better, but I think I had a pretty solid start. I kept control of the match, so it's important to have that control in the opening rounds... I prepared really well. I'm not feeling my hand [a wrist injury in Toronto] so I'm ready to go." postmatch interview

*n49 Alexandra Dulgheru ROU d n6 s5 Petra Kvitova CZE 7-6(3), 6-3 Mon

Alexandra driving a forehand, and Petra and Alexandra driving backhands

Andrea said: "I have been struggling a little bit with my physical state right now [a partially torn right knee ligament], so it's already a big success for me being in the second round. I didn't expect to play at all, so for me, being able to play is a big success." postmatch interview

Sabine said: "I just got here yesterday at 4:00, so really didn't have a lot of time to adjust. But I think I did a pretty good job. Court 17 was nice. New court, and a great atmosphere out there and lots of people were there, so it was nice." postmatch interview

Serena serving, Bojana ready to swat a forehand, and Serena driving a backhand

The match was the 2nd night match on the Ashe court, and did not start until 10:30pm. Serena said: "I could've played more aggressive. I kind of was just out there, getting balls back... The guys should play second. They're guys. We're ladies. They should totally play second all the time. Ladies—you open the door for ladies. [The men] should go second. It's ridiculous."

Venus said: "I think [Vesna] did well. She was hitting the corners. Definitely kept me on my toes. Especially in a first match back it's definitely nice to have some kind of push, someone to challenge you. So it was great for me." WTA story

16 year old Madison said: "This is my first time in the main draw here, and obviously it was a good first day. It's just been awesome... I was trying to really just kind of break her down and really stick to my game, and I thought I did a pretty good job of that after the match." postmatch interview

Vera said: "I've known Kateryna for a long time and I knew she was a dangerous player, so I expected a very tough match... I wouldn't say I'm pleased with the quality of tennis I showed, but I'm pleased the way I handled the match. It wasn't easy for me out there, and she's a tricky player." postmatch interview

n4 s3 Maria Sharapova RUS d n84 Anastasiya Yakimova BLR 6-1, 6-1 Wed

Maria serving, Anastasiya driving a backhand, Maria following one, and after match point

Maria said: "I played a pretty tricky opponent tonight who didn't play the typical kind of tennis. Sliced a lot, a lot of high balls. Maybe the first couple of games I was a little bit impatient. Then I got really steady. I was aggressive. Still felt like I could have moved in a little bit more, but overall I played solid and much better than the first one." postmatch interview

In the past two weeks Christina recorded wins over #1 Caroline Wozniacki and #16 Svetlana Kuznetsova. She finished 2007 ranked #712, 2008 at #425, 2009 at #218, and last year at #115. She will be in the top 50 after this year's US Open.

Christina said: "I'm so excited to have beaten a player like Marion... I couldn't play like any sloppy games. I had to try and compete really hard in the second set because I knew she was going to try even harder, too, to get the second set because she lost the first. When I went from 3-Love to 3-2, I was like, 'C'mon, Christina, don't let it get back to 3-All.' That game was a big game to get it to 4-2." postmatch interview

n10 s9 Samantha Stosur AUS d n113 Coco Vandeweghe USA 6-3, 6-4 Wed

Samantha serving, and Coco driving a backhand

n11 s10 Andrea Petkovic GER d n77 Jie Zheng CHN 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 Thu

Jie serving, and Andrea driving a backhand

Andrea said: "I prepared myself definitely. I never played [Jie]. It's always different. I watch a lot of videos. I watched her play live in Cincinnati, but it's always different when you feel the ball of the opponent than watching it on TV.
"I think she plays well. I think she's very solid. I think for me she's definitely a top 20 player if she recovers from her injuries. She had bad injuries. So I think it was a tough match, and she plays well. I just tried to mix it up, you know, stay tough, and tried to be dominant in the game. In the beginning I had a very slow start, but afterwards I think I was playing better." postmatch interview

n12 s11 Jelena Jankovic SRB d n73 Jelena Dokic AUS 6-3, 6-4 Thu

Jelena D and JJ driving forehands

JJ said: "I think her serve was very inconsistent. She would give me a lot of free points on that stroke. So I really felt comfortable on the ground playing my shots. When I was able to dictate, especially when I kind of lifted up my level of play up, I would kind of be on a roll and kind of control the whole game.
"But then I had some [stiff back] problems, and then I was kind of I would kind of stop and I wouldn't move as much. Then my serve, I started double faults as well because I couldn't push off... As soon as I started playing more solid and started dictating the points a lot more, then it was all me out there. So I'm happy with my win, and I look forward to my next round." postmatch interview

Irina trailed 3-0 in the 3rd set. Irina said: "Could have been 6-0, 5-0, but I knew I had to fight for every single point. Dominika is such a fighter. I knew she wasn't going to give it to me. In the third set, I thought to myself, This is now or never. I just started really zoning in on what I had to do to win every single point and it paid off." postmatch interview

Caroline said: "I won. I think that's the most positive. It's great to be through. I was fighting a lot out there, getting quite a lot of balls back. But it's quite windy out there, so it was difficult to play. Definitely the serve was difficult, as well, because it wasn't just going one way, the wind, it was going everywhere. You had to keep the margin over the net and from the lines...
"I had a tough match against [Vania] at Indian Wells, and even though the score said 0 and 1 in Australia, we still played quite a tough match. We had a lot of good rallies out there, but I just ended up winning most of them. But we had a lot of tough games. So I knew it wasn't going to be easy today. I had to keep my focus and just go in there and just play for every point." postmatch interview

Vania said: "I'm disappointed I lost. I thought it was a good match, though. It's a pity. I had a lot of chances in the first I felt, a lot of breakpoint chances. [Caroline] was a little bit more aggressive than I was, and, you know, obviously she's one of the best players out there. So I needed to step it up when I needed to, and she did it a little bit better than me today." postmatch interview

Vera said: "I feel like I was playing some good tennis, and then there were a few moments where I felt like I disappeared. There were couple times, couple downs throughout the match. That's something I'm not really happy about, but overall it showed when I needed, I came up with some good tennis and good shots. That's something that I need to focus on, especially if I want to win my next match." postmatch interview

Flavia serving, Maria and Flavia driving forehands, and Flavia after match point

Flavia struck 18 winners (including 2 aces), with 35 unforced errors (including 6 double faults), while scoring on 7 of the 16 break points she reached against Maria and totaling 105 points in the match. Maria hit 30 winners (no aces), with 60 unforced errors (12 DFs, including 2 in the final game of the match), while converting 6 of the 14 break points she reached against Flavia, and scoring 98 points in the match. match stats

Flavia said: "[Maria is] a good fighter. You can never give up with her. You have to be focused until the last game, until the last point, actually. But I think at 5-4 {in the 3rd set} she's starting to feel a little bit of pressure, also. She has a lot of double faults. But during this season also she played really good, she had good results, but also with the serve, she wasn't serving like before. So I think she's just feeling the pressure." postmatch interview

Maria said: "I made way too many unforced errors. I fought back to get myself back in the match in the third set. I think the first three, four games, on every game I had a chance to win that game, whether it was a breakpoint or it was a game point on my serve, and I didn't win those games. When you're down 1-4 and you get yourself back in a position where can you win again and start making errors, it's just too inconsistent to win the match against [Flavia]... I think she played really smart. That's her game, and she makes you hit a lot of balls." postmatch interview

Serena outscored Victoria 20-8 in the first five games of the match. Victoria said: "17 minutes is kind of fast to go 5 Love down. But I think [Serena] started really strong, and didn't really give me much of a space to be out there. I felt like few little shots that I could have been aggressive, so little that I always felt kind of rushed. But after that I just had to really start the momentum going, change a little bit the dynamic of the match. Nothing else than just try to get one by one to stay in the match." postmatch interview

Serena said: "I think in the first set I played some really good tennis. I think in the second set [Victoria] played really, really good tennis. She kind of dictated and I allowed that. I probably could have played better in the second." postmatch interview - ESPN story

Chanelle serving, Francesca following a forehand, and after match point

Francesca said: "It's great to come back after fight like this. In the meantime, it's bad to arrive there. Because [Chanelle] was good, she was consistent, but I really didn't do my best... Then in the third set I think I played much better. With serve, with forehand, I start to push like I had to." postmatch interview

Andrea serving, Roberta running down a forehand, Petko driving a backhand, and after match point

Andrea said: "I started off a little nervously because I didn't know [Roberta]. I knew how she was playing but I didn't play her before. I knew she plays differently. She plays more like a man, a lot of slice, trying to get into the net. So I was a little nervous, but once I found my rhythm, I think I played a solid match. I tried to put more topspin on the balls because she plays a lot of slice, and I think it's tougher to play slice when somebody gives topspin on the ball. So that's what I tried to do. I think it went fine." postmatch interview

Ana serving, Sloane following a backhand, Ana driving a forehand, and after match point

Ana said: "I thought I started off really well and was really aggressive, which was really important because I actually hadn't seen [Sloane] play much in the past. But I could tell she has a big game if she has time. I tried to put more pressure on her, take time away. It worked well. In the second set she raised her level and it was a battle. I thought I stayed composed in the end and did well to break her back on 4-all and then hold my serve in the end." postmatch interview

Sloane said: "I'm upset because obviously I lost, but I had so many chances. I knew exactly what I had to do, and I just didn't execute properly. But I think for a first time I'm glad I got it out of the way. So next time, you know, hopefully it will be a little better." postmatch interview

n23 s22 Sabine Lisicki GER d n78 Irina Falconi USA 6-0, 6-1 Fri

Sabine serving, and Irina ready to swat a backhand

About her 4th round opponent, Vera Zvonareva, Sabine said: "We played here last year and we played in San Diego, those two on hard courts. It was really close in San Diego. There I was really tired, but I was playing well. I'm playing well now, as well. You know, we'll see." postmatch interview

n26 s25 Maria Kirilenko RUS d n66 Christina McHale USA 6-2, 6-3 Fri

Christina showing slice on a backhand, Maria following one, and after winning a point

*n70 Monica Niculescu ROU d n28 s27 Lucie Safarova CZE 6-0, 6-1 Fri

Lucie driving a backhand, Monica reaching for one, and after match point

Caroline serving, Svetlana and Caroline driving forehands, and Caro after winning a point

Caroline said: "The wind was pretty strong out there today. It came from the back and just went that way, one side. From one side you really had to hit through the ball to get it going, and from the other side you had to watch out not to play too deep. It was a tough match, a good battle out there. We've had a few of those before, and here two years ago at the US Open." postmatch interview

Svetlana said: "I had chances. And for me, I missed the chances. This is my opinion about the match... I have not played matches so intense in very, very long time. My US series wasn't so good. Finally I came in good shape and was playing good game. Yes, I did lots of unforced errors (78, with 40 winners), but because I was trying to come very aggressive and to dictate, and I was doing this.
"And [Caroline] plays a game. She was a wall. To break a wall, you cannot hit hard. You have to mix it up. I think I did the right things. I just couldn't close it up in the right moments. This is it. She never gives the match away. I just didn't do the right things in certain moments when I had to." postmatch interview

Asked the usual question about Caroline not yet winning a Grand Slam title, Svetlana said: "It doesn't make sense to talk about it because she's No. 1, she's stable player. So far she didn't win. But if she wins, she will win. You will talk about different stuff. But just matter of time to see if it's gonna happen or no, you know. She's still great player. What's wrong if she didn't win a Grand Slam? What's wrong if she gonna win? I think it's talking of nothing."

n2 s2 Vera Zvonareva RUS d n23 s22 Sabine Lisicki GER 6-2, 6-3 Sun

Vera serving, Sabine following a forehand, and Vera driving one

Vera is 2-7 against her next opponent, Samantha Stosur. Vera said: "The record is one thing, but a new day is a new day. We've always had tough matches, it was like 50-50. [Samantha] won those. There's nothing I can do about it right now, but I can go on the court after tomorrow and try to change it a little bit. I will have to play very well and very consistent, but I will try to prepare myself the best I can and we will see how it goes on Tuesday."

Anastasia said: "I tried to be excessive aggressive. I tried not to let [Francesca] play her game, because she's very smart and she makes me run a lot. She puts a lot of spin... [In the 1st set] I felt like I wasn't playing good enough. After I got angry, especially with my serve; it wasn't going well. Then I thought, 'Okay, the match in three sets. If I lose the first set nothing gonna happen. I'm gonna continue fighting...' She's always coming back, so I thought maybe I try to do the same thing here." postmatch interview

Francesca "I show you what I want to show, but of course I am disappointed. Come on. It's a match where I played two points and I don't play eight points. It's normal that the other one win." postmatch interview

The 2nd set tiebreaker was the longest tiebreaker in Grand Slam history. Samantha failed to convert 5 match points; Maria reached a third set on her 6th set point.

Samantha said: "I lost track of the score. At one point I didn't even know if I was serving or receiving, or when we should be changing ends," Stosur said. "Obviously with all those challenges as well, it was super exciting. The crowd was really into it. I couldn't really hear myself think at times because it was so loud out there." WTA story

Samantha is 7-2 against her next opponent, Vera Zvonareva. Samantha said: "It's a nice record to have against someone, but at the end of the day we're playing in a Grand Slam, and I can't remember the last time we played in a Grand Slam [2004]. I'm sure [Vera] wants to get one back. You can't think because you won the last seven, you'll win the eighth without playing good tennis."

Andrea driving a forehand, Carla ready to swat one, Andrea driving a backhand, and doing the Petko Dance 2.0 after match point

Andrea will play #1 Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinals. Petko defeated Caro 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in the 4th round at Miami this year. Andrea said: "I played really solid. I played well. I played very smart. I kept my game plan throughout the whole match. I lost then afterwards against her in Stuttgart. She played an incredible match there. She played really, really well. She's a really tough opponent. As I said, you have to work for every point and you have to play at your limit to beat her." postmatch interview

*n27 s26 Flavia Pennetta ITA d n14 s13 Shuai Peng CHN 6-4, 7-6(6) Sun

Flavia serving, Shuai following a forehand, Flavia reaching for one, and after match point

The 2-set match lasted over 2½ hours. Flavia felt ill from the heat and humidity while serving for the match at 6-5, then fell behind 2-6 in the tiebreaker, giving Shuai 4 set points. But Flavia scored the next six points to win the match. tourney match report

The win raised Flavia's record against Shuai to 5-0. Flavia said: "I played [Shuai] already four time before this one. I know before the match what was the situation and what I have to do for take the match. But was not easy, because I think she's a better player of two years ago. She improve a lot...
"But I try to be aggressive, to move her a lot from one side to the other one. Sometime was working; sometimes not... If you give her a lot of angle it's better for her. So if you start maybe a little more in the middle and then you try to move her, she's starting to have some problems. I was trying to do that." postmatch interview

*n29 s28 Serena Williams USA d n17 s16 Ana Ivanovic SRB 6-3, 6-4 Mon

Serena driving a forehand, and Ana and Serena driving backhands

Serena said: "I thought [Ana] played really well. I think we could have both played a little bit better because of the [windy] conditions. But I think we were just both trying to do our best... [The wind] was crazy. I didn't even go for winners at any point. I just tried to get it over because it was so windy. It was like, 'Wow.' It was definitely tough." postmatch interview

Ana said: "It is definitely tough [playing Serena]... You have to step up a little more and try to take it up to her, and maybe try to get her out of her rhythm. I didn't feel like I was getting blown off the court today. I really felt I created a lot of opportunities even for myself. But she did play well. I felt her serve held up more [in the high wind] than mine did, and that was the difference." postmatch interview

*n107 Angelique Kerber GER d n70 Monica Niculescu ROU 6-4, 6-3 Sun

Angelique and Monica driving backhands, Angelique driving a forehand, and after match point

Andrea said: "I think I slept in the first set a little bit, but afterwards I think it was a tough match. It was a good match. Caroline, she did what she always does. She forced me to errors in the tiebreak. I gave a little bit too many presents, three or four unforced errors, and that's the difference against her. But I think after I found my rhythm in the second set it was a good match." postmatch interview

The match was moved to Court 13 due to problems with the Armstrong court surface. Caroline said: "It was much different definitely. The court was a bit faster, I felt. I felt the ball was not jumping as high. Of course you feel a bit different because the crowd, they are sitting closer. But again it's a quarterfinals of a Slam, so you go out there. The court is the same no matter where you play, at least the measurements. Yoou just have to play inside the lines and over the net." postmatch interview

Caroline will play Serena Williams in the semifinals on Saturday. Asked about Caroline's chances against Serena, Andrea Petkovic said: "I saw the match against Anastasia today, and I think if Caroline plays really well, and if she changes up the rhythm and plays as consistent as she is always, she definitely has chances. I think Caroline is one of the most underestimated players out there, because you have to win each and every point against her. If you don't do it, you lose.
"If Serena plays well, it's tough to beat her. But anybody will lose against her if she's on fire. But if Serena struggles a little bit and Caroline plays consistent, she definitely has her chances."

Caroline said: "I know I'm going out there and playing a great champion. [Serena] hasn't won 13 Grand Slams for nothing. She's been out there on the big stage many times. I'm No. 1 in the world at the moment and I've been playing well and I have had a great year. Both have nothing to lose. We'll just go out there, and hopefully will be a good battle. That's all that matters, that I give it my all. After the match we'll see how good that was."

Samantha said: "To come out and play the way I did today, obviously after the long waiting around that we have had to do, is really, really pleasing. To do it against a player like Vera, who is obviously a quality opponent, is definitely a good feeling." postmatch interview

About her semifinal opponent, Angelique Kerber, Samantha said: "I don't actually know much about Kerber except that she's a lefty. That's about it. We've never played and never practiced together or anything like that. If I can keep playing the way I am I have a good chance, I think. It's the semis of a slam, and we all want to get through to that final... I'm going to have to play well."

Serena serving, Anastasia and Serena driving forehands, and Serena after match point

Serena struck 26 winners (including 6 aces), with 23 unforced errors (including no double faults), while scoring on 6 of the 9 break points she reached against Anastasia and totaling 72 points in the match. Anastasia hit 13 winners (1 ace), with 31 unforced errors (9 DFs), while converting the 3 of the 6 break points she reached against Serena, and scoring 46 points in the match. match stats

Neither player held serve for the first six games of the match. Serena said: "For me it was a slow start, and once I lost serve, I was determined to break serve so I wouldn't be down a break. Then I just kept losing serve in the beginning. Very weird... I tried to move my feet a little better and just tried to get pumped up, because I felt like I wasn't at my best... I just think I was just a step slow in the beginning. I was hitting a lot indoors and it's a totally different surface, so once I kind of got out in the match, once I showed up, I was able to play better." postmatch interview

About playing #1 Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals on Saturday, Serena said: "I think [Caroline's] weapon is the fact that she never gives up. You saw she was playing Kuznetsova and she was down and she came back. That's probably the biggest weapon I think you can have in all of tennis. Also, she's moving really fast. She's running every ball down. That's a great weapon to have, as well."

Angelique and Flavia driving backhands, Angelique driving a forehand, and Flavia congratulating Angelique after match point

Angelique said: "I come here and my goal was to get into the second or third round—now I'm in the semifinal, and it's unbelievable feeling. I wake up last night and I was thinking: 'It's a dream or it's real?' I mean, also the quarters was for me the best highlight of my career, and now I'm in the semis...it's unbelievable." tourney story

Flavia said: "I expecting a match like that, tough, and I was ready for that, but [Angelique] was better than me on the day... She's left handed and everything was a little bit different for me. My good serve on the T was not that good today, and it was going on her forehand and was the best shot she had. So I tried few time to go wide, but I make a few double fault in the important point... Of course I'm frustrating now about this match, but I happy about the week." postmatch interview

About playing Samantha Stosur in the semifinals [their first meeting], Angelique said: "I will just enjoy the match. I go out there and I will enjoy it. I will play my tennis. I try to fight also, play point by point, and I will see."

Although it was clearly a bad night for Caroline, Serena said: "I felt like she was never far off. She definitely had opportunities. She never gave up. I'd be up 40-0 in a game and she'd come back. I'd be up 30-0 and she would end up winning the game. It was intense." postmatch interview - WTA story

Caroline said: "Serena just played very, very well today. She's in great shape, serving well, returning well, playing her hard strokes. Especially that serve was just a killer. I don't know how many aces she made out there today, but it's not fun returning those." postmatch interview

About playing Samantha Stosur in the final, Serena said: "I feel like tomorrow going in we both have the same chances of winning. [Samantha is] playing great. I have been watching her this whole tournament. I'm not surprised that she's in the final. She's such a great player and a great athlete and a nice girl. It's definitely gonna be tough for me, so we'll see."

Samantha serving, Angelique driving a forehand, Samantha driving a backhand, and after match point

Samantha struck 30 winners (including no aces), with 27 unforced errors (including 2 double faults), while scoring on all of the 4 break points she reached against Angelique and totaling 80 points in the match. Angelique hit 16 winners (2 aces), with 18 unforced errors (2 DFs), while converting the 3 of the 12 break points she reached against Samantha while scoring 74 points in the match. match stats

Samantha said: "This was my third Grand Slam semifinal. It was a good thing to have in my back pocket, playing someone who's never been there before. The second set did go by pretty fast for me. I went off court and tried to settle down, and just think about my gameplan from the first set and do it again. I knew I had to try make some subtle changes and get a good start in the third." postmatch interview - WTA story

Angelique said: "The first few games were too fast for me. Everything was new for me, so many people and the lights. I found my rhythm and played my game, tried to be aggressive, and it worked well, but then it started going fast again in the third set. There were some close points but she was playing very well." postmatch interview

About the final, 2010 French Open finalist Samantha said: "It's great that I have a second chance now. I'll definitely go out there and give it my best shot. I know it will be extremely difficult—but this is what you play for. I'm happy I've given myself another opportunity to win a Grand Slam."

Serena serving, Samantha reaching for a forehand, Serena driving a backhand, Samantha driving a forehand
Samantha serving, Serena reaching for a backhand, Samantha driving a another forehand, and after match point

2011 US Open Series

"The USTA will offer up to an additional $2.6 million in bonus prize money at the US Open to the top three men’s and top three women’s singles finishers in the US Open Series... the six-week summer tennis season linking 10 major ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournaments to the US Open." US Open champions will win a $1 million bonus if they won the US Open Series, and thus receive a $2.8 million prize.

(Aug 19, 2011) Former WTA #1 Kim Clijsters has withdrawn from the US Open due to an abdominal muscle tear. Kim will not play in any more WTA tournaments this season; she does intend to play in an exhibition in Antwerp in December, and return to WTA tourneys (and play in the London Olympic Games) in 2012, which she expects to be her final season.Kim said: "The Diamond Games on December 8 at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp are the first test, and then in early January, Australia... In my head I focus now on 2012, the Olympics and who knows, if I'm spared from injuries maybe one last US Open." Tennis.com Ticker